How to Sew a Four Hole Button

Last Updated: August 10, 2021 References Tested

Clothes are expensive. When you lose a button, most shirts come with extra ones at the bottom. But how do you put that button in a spot to replace the one you lost? You sew it back on!

Steps

1
Unwind 2 feet (24 in.) of your thread. Use your scissors to make a neat cut, keeping the edges from fraying as much as possible. This will make it easier to thread your needle.^{[1]
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2
Thread your needle by moistening the tip of the thread and feeding it through the eye of the needle.^{[2]
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3
Fold the thread in half, with the needle at the center and tie a knot at the other end. To tie the knot, loop the thread around two of your fingers, pushing the needle through the loop you just made.^{[3]
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4
Your knot will look like this when it is tied correctly.^{[4]
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5
Place your button on the material in the spot you want it to be sewn.
6
Push the needle through the fabric under the button. Push it through one of the button-holes, making sure to pull the thread all the way through until the knot catches on the fabric.
7
Push the needle down the button-hole directly opposite (diagonally) the first hole and through the fabric, pulling the thread all the way through.^{[5]
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8
Push the needle up through the fabric and through one of the remaining button-holes, making sure the thread is pulled all the way through.^{[6]
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9
Push the needle through the opposite hole and down through the fabric, pulling it tight.
10
Repeat this process through the same holes until you feel the button is secure enough. Going through each hole 3 times should be sufficient. For larger buttons, more passes may be needed.
11
With the needle underneath the button, pass the needle through the crisscrossing threads on the bottom of the button. Pull the thread completely through, without going through any of the holes of the fabric itself.
12
To tie the knot off, push the needle through the crisscrossing threads one last time, without pulling the thread all the way through.
13
Push the needle through the loop in the thread and pull it tight, forming a knot similar to the one you used to tie off the thread initially.
14
Using your scissors, cut the remaining thread just above the knot you just made. Congratulations, you have successfully sewn a button!
15
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I sew my own clothes?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

Making your own clothes with a sewing machine is the most efficient method. Sewing by hand is also an option. Purchase a pattern to get a guide to the materials and method of making a garment.
Question

Can you tie the knot off at the end without the needle?

Community Answer

Yes, but it is much harder to do. The needle helps you make a tighter knot than you could do with your fingers alone.